Mechanical means to apply a plastic template to the necks of containers

ABSTRACT

Containers having a body portion and a relatively smaller neck portion are segregated into groups or clusters and a carrier having openings therein is telescoped over the neck portion to complete the package.

[ 1 Jan. 9, 1973 United States Patent 1191 Doucette I 5/1962 Reimers et [54] MECHANICAL MEANS TO APPLY A 3 032 943 PLASTIC TEMPLATE TO THE NECKS 3,404,505 10/1968 HOhl et a]. 0F CONTAINERS 3,137,109 6/1964 [75] Inventor:

Primary Examinerkobert C. Riordon Assistant Examiner-Eugene F. Desmond Attorney--Philip M. Rice and E. J. Holler [22] Filed:

Feb. 19, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 116,803

ABSTRACT Containers having a body portion and a relatively [52] US. 53/49 [51] 27/04 Smaller neck portion are segregated into groups or 134149 196 clusters and a carrier having openings therein is References Cited I ealzizcged over the neck port1on to complete the UNITED STATES PATENTS [58] Field of Search..............

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This invention relates to forming packages of containers and particularly to forming packages of groups of containers, each container comprising a body portion and a relatively smaller neck portion with abutment means adjacent the upper end of the neck portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the handling'of containers such as glass bottles which have a body portion and a relatively small neck portion, it is common to segregate the containers into groups and provide a carton or other type of enclosure so that each group can be handled separately both in distribution, sales-and by the ultimate customer. Such enclosures have conventionally comprised paper cartons, elastic bands and carriers that are forced about the upper. end of the neck portions of the containers.

Among the objects of the present invention are to provide a method and apparatus wherein carriers can be applied on the upper ends of groups of containers; wherein this can be achieved quickly and efficiently; and wherein there is a minimum of disturbance or undesirable forces placed upon the containers during handling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Containers having a body portion and a relatively smaller neck portion are segregated into groups or clusters and a carrier having openings therein is telescoped over the neck portions to complete the package. Specifically, carrier engaging members enter at least some of the openings of the carrier and stretch the carrier. The carrier is then moved downwardly over the neck portions and stripped from the carrier engaging members.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS I F lG.,-1 is a perspective viewof an apparatus embodying the invention. v

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view on an enlarged scale of a' portion of the apparatus shown in FIG.' 1.

FIG. 3 is a'fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 2 parts being broken away.

' FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken the line 4-4 in FIG. 2. I v

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a package made in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 4 showing the parts in a different operative position.

DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. 5, the method and apparatus disclosed herein is intended to assemble a group of containers C having a body portion 10 and a relatively smaller neck portion 11 and rib l2 and end cap 13, such as glass containers with metal caps, into a package. In accordance with the invention the package comprises an endless elastic band 14 that is telescoped over a group or cluster of containers and a carrier 15 that has openings 16 having a diameter slightly less than that of the necks so that the carrier being made of along Referring to FIG. 1, the method and apparatus embodying the invention is incorporated in a machine 20 comprising an endless conveyor 21 which carries the containers C progressively between pairs of star wheels 22. The star wheels 22 are provided with groups of pockets 23 separated by spaced portions 24 so as the star wheels rotate continuously they segregate the two rows of containers into groups or clusters, herein shown as six containers in each group or cluster. As the containers leave the star wheels they are loosely clustered. Therefore, a retarding means, such as brushes 21a located on each side of the conveyor drag the containers against cleats 21b fixed to the conveyor flights, thus resulting in a closely clustered group of bottles which are now in registered location with the band and carrier applying heads.

Each group of containers is carried along continuously by the conveyor 21 past an endless band applying area or station A during which the endless band 14 is applied to the group and then through a carrier applying station B at which the carrier 15 is applied to the group. As will appear hereinafter, at each station A, B, thebands and carriers are applied to three groups or clusters of containers simultaneously.

At the band applying station A, a carriage 25 is reciprocated back and forth so that during a portion of its movement it carries a band applying head 26 along in register with the groups of containers and operation of the head 26 applies bands to the groups of containers. The endless bands are supplied from'a source 27 that provides three flattened tubular lengths of plastic P from which the endless bands are cut and transferred by a transfer mechanism '28 to fingers on the head 26, as presently described. The fingers apply the endless bands to the groups of containers as the, groups of containers and head 26 move along in registry.

As the groups of containers with endless bands applied thereto are thereafter moved. by conveyor 21 through station B, a second carriage 30 is reciprocated along the conveyor 21 to carry a carrier applying head 31- in registry with the containers as they are moved along by the conveyor 21 and thereby apply, as presently described, carriers to, the groups of containers. The carriers are delivered from a source 32 in three endless webs E from which they are severed and delivered to the head 31 by a mechanism generally shown as at'33. As the head 31 is carried by the carriage 30 in the same direction as the endless conveyor 21, the head is manipulated to apply the carriers to the groups of containers herein shown as three groups "block yieldingly supports a plunger 46 that isyieldingly' outwardly at the periphery of the carrier to insure v the stripping of the carrier onto the containers.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said last mentioned means comprises stripper fingers associated with said carrier engaging members, said fingers being movable axially relative to said carrier engaging members.

urged downwardly by a spring'47 and a stripper finger 48 that is yieldingly urged downwardly by a spring 49. A carrier engaging member 50 is provided on the lower end of each plunger 46 and includes a downwardly and outwardly inclined surface 51 that is engaged by an inwardly extending projection 52 on the stripper 48.

When carriers are provided on the table (now shown) and the head is lowered, the plunger 46 and particularly theicarrier engaging members 50 enter the openings of. the carrier 15. The earns 42 are then operated to move the fingers 51 outwardly stretching the carrier and thereby grasping the carriers 15 (FIG. 4). Upon rotation of the head to bring the carriers 15 into overlying relationship with the group of containers and lowering of the heads, the carrier engaging members 50 seat upon'the upper ends of the containers C. Further downward movement of the head causes the stripper fingers 52 to follow the inclined outer surfaces of the carrier engaging members 50 and strip the carrier from the head. A pressure plate 53 yieldingly supported by springs 54 applies a substantially uniform'pressure to the upper surface of carrier 15 to'assist in stripping it onto the group of containers (FIG. 6).

Iclaim:

l. An'apparatus for applying a carrier of elastic material onto a group of containers having a body portion and a relatively smaller neck portionwith abutment meanson said neck portion comprises a plurality of carrier engaging members for engaging a substantially flarcarrier of elastic material ad jacent its periphery, v i means for moving said carrier engaging members in the general "plane of said carrier'toexpand said carrier and bring the openings in the carrier into substantial alignment .lwithl the openings of a" cluster'of containers, j means for moving the; carrier axially downwardly over the n eck portions ofthe containers while simultaneously applying a force overthe' major area of the carrier, I

means forfurther expanding the carrier as-the carrier is moved'downwardly relative to the containers, and means for providing. a further force generally 3. Thecombination set forth in clairn 2 wherein said fingers are also movable transversely with respect to said carrier engaging members.

4. he combination set forth in claim 3 wherein each said carrier engaging member has a downwardly and outwardly inclined surface, the'corresponding stripper finger engaging said surface and thereby moving outwardly as it is moved axially downwardly relative to said carrier engaging member.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein each said finger is pivoted.

6. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said tionand .a relatively smaller neck portion with abutment means on said neck portion comprises a plurality of carrier engaging members for engaging a substantially flat carrier of elastic material adjacent its periphery, each said carrier engaging member having a portion thereof adapted to engage the closure on the upper end of the neckportion of the container, means for moving said carrier engaging members in the general plane of said carrier to expand said carrier and bring the openings in the carrier into substantial alignment with the openings of a cluster of containers,

means for. moving the carrier engaging members downwardly into engagement with the closures on the neck portions of the containers,

andmeans for-thereafter moving the carrier-axially downwardly over the closures of the containers and applying a force over themajor area of the carrier toengage the carrier with the containers.

8. The combination set forth .in claim 7'wherein'said last-mentioned means comprises stripper fingers associated with said carrier engaging members, said fingers being movable axially relative to said carrier engaging members. I I

9. The combination set forth in claim. 8 wherein each said carrier engaging member. has a downwardly and outwardly inclinedsurface, the corresponding stripper finger engaging said surface and thereby moving outsaid carrier engaging member.

I a: k 

1. An apparatus for applying a carrier of elastic material onto a group of containers having a body portion and a relatively smaller neck portion with abutment means on said neck portion comprises a plurality of carrier engaging members for engaging a substantially flat carrier of elastic material adjacent its periphery, means for moving said carrier engaging members in the general plane of said carrier to expand said carrier and bring the openings in the carrier into substantial alignment with the openings of a cluster of containers, means for moving the carrier axially downwardly over the neck portions of the containers while simultaneously applying a force over the major area of the carrier, means for further expanding the carrier as the carrier is moved downwardly relative to the containers, and means for providing a further force generally outwardly at the periphery of the carrier to insure the stripping of the carrier onto the containers.
 2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said last mentioned means comprises stripper fingers associated with said carrier engaging members, said fingers being movable axially relative to said carrier engaging members.
 3. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said fingers are also movable transversely with respect to said carrier engaging members.
 4. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein each said carrier engaging member has a downwardly and outwardly inclined surface, the corresponding stripper finger engaging said surface and thereby moving outwardly as it is moved axially downwardly relative to said carrier engaging member.
 5. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein each said finger is pivoted.
 6. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said last mentioned means includes a pressure plate movable relative to said carrier engaging members.
 7. An apparatus for applying a carrier of elastic material onto a group of containers having a body portion and a relatively smaller neck portion with abutment means on said neck portion comprises a plurality of carrier engaging members for engaging a substantially flat carrier of elastic material adjacent its periphery, each said carrier engaging member having a portion thereof adapted to engage the closure on the upper end of the neck portion of the container, means for moving said carrier engaging members in the general plane of said carrier to expand said carrier and bring the openings in the carrier into substantial alignment with the openings of a cluster of containers, means for moving the carrier engaging members downwardly into engagement with the closures on the neck portions of the containers, and means for thereafter moving the carrier axially downwardly over the closures of the containers and applying a force over the major area of the carrier to engage the carrier with the containers.
 8. The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises stripper fingers associated with said carrier engaging members, said fingers being movable axially relative to said carrier engaging members.
 9. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein each said carrier engaging member has a downwardly and outwardly inclined surface, the corresponding stripper finger engaging said surface and thereby moviNg outwardly as it is moved axially downwardly relative to said carrier engaging member. 